Uncommon Freedom

How Hard Work, Mentors and Faith Changed Everything for a Homeless Teen

• Kevin Tinter • Episode 109

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What does it take to rewrite a story that started with homelessness, instability, and a 0.3 GPA? We sit down with Eric Jones, a nationally licensed mortgage broker and founder of The Jones Group, to trace the choices, mentors, and mindset shifts that turned rock bottom into a mission to help families and veterans build a stable future through homeownership.

Eric’s journey moves fast—from a shelter in Illinois to a middle class neighborhood shadowed by abuse, from getting kicked out at 18 to graduating with honors, from partying through freshman year to dropping out and finding mentors who demanded more. You’ll hear how “triple the jobs” and “send 20 applications a day” became turning points, why he chose skill stacking over short‑term pay, and how a leap into mortgage sales led to his first six‑figure year. More important, you’ll see how faith reframed his definition of success from income to impact.

We go deep on practical playbooks: finding mentors and proving you’re coachable, replacing excuses with volume and consistency, and using business as a tool for stewardship. Eric shares how inviting men to church built a small circle where two were baptized, and how mortgages can restore dignity for first‑time buyers, veterans, and anyone who needs someone to say, “There’s a path forward—and I’ll walk it with you.” If you’re stuck in a story you didn’t choose, this conversation offers clarity, courage, and steps you can take today.

Listen now, subscribe for more uncommon stories of growth, and share this episode with someone who needs proof that everything is figureoutable. If it helped you, leave a review and tell us the one habit you’re starting this week.

Connect with Eric:

The Jones Group | Powered By Barrett Financial Group, LLC 

Google: "Jones Lending Group Mortgages" or go to Website: JonesLendingGroup.com

The Jones Group is dedicated to serving families, investors, and military veterans by helping them access homeownership, financial stability, and a hopeful future. We provide transparent guidance, education, and support throughout the mortgage process. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericjones.thejonesgroup/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thejonesgroupmortgage

Google Business Page: https://share.google/gvMNx6BYl4cj4gllM

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Kevin:

Hey friends. Welcome back to the Uncommon Freedom Show. Today I'm really excited to have a new but really good friend, Eric Jones. And uh he is has lived one of those kinds of transformations that most people only read about. Uh he and I have already talked about the need for him to write a book at some point. Uh from instability, homelessness, and heartbreak to building a successful business and a purpose-driven future, his story is fueled by faith, wisdom earned the hard way, the school of hard knocks, and an unwavering belief that people can rise. Now the founder of the Jones Group and a nationally licensed mortgage broker, Eric helps individuals, families, investors, and especially veterans access home ownership, a fresh start, and a future filled with hope. He believes every person has a story worth rewriting, and through his business mentorship, and service, he's pursuing a future where his life's impact far outweighs his resume. Eric Jones is a living proof that success is not inherited, it's built. So, Eric, welcome to the show, brother. Hey, thank you very much. Glad to be here, man. Absolutely. Thanks for carving out some time to swing by the house and record. Um, it's just first of all, just been really an honor to get to know you over the last couple of months. Uh, we met for the first time in, I believe it was September. You came with Jason to poker. And uh I don't know, Marines are kind of like Buckeye fans. We have a way of sensing each other out, right? Siffening each other out. And um, we connected on that level right away and just uh could tell that you are a abundant-minded guy. You're really passionate about and understand the need for uh community. I call it running with lions and upgrading your circle. And you're someone who has kind of figured that out on your own. So um let's get started with your story. I mean, we have some other things we want to talk about. Sure. Um, but I think the context is really important. In fact, you told me my your story. Uh, we went out, played a round of golf, and I got to hear your story, and I was like, that's incredible. You're the kind of guy, because you're 34 years old. 34. 34. Uh, you're the kind of guy that um like I want speaking into the life of especially my boys. Um, and uh, and so had you over for dinner, had you share your story again to them. And I was just as enthralled by it the first or the second time as I was the first time, and I know I will be again here uh hearing it today, but I just want you to be able to share your story uh because so many people they they think that, you know, because they were born, you know, to maybe a uh low middle income or even a low-income family. Um, they had single mom raising them or single dad raising them or just all kinds of disadvantages. They'll they'll use that as an excuse instead of a little speed bump to step over. And I think your story kind of busts apart all of the myths about entitlement and privilege and things like that. And it's just a story of, like you said, hard work will get you the results that you want. So take us back to the beginning.

Eric:

Well, first of all, thank you very much for that that kind introduction. It's super humbling. And uh, if there's any value that can come from my life story, you know, I'm more than willing to share it and help the next person um that feels like they're in the same position that I was. So um glad to help and thankful to be here. Um, so starting off, my story starts um being born in Guam. So I was born to two military parents. Um, both of them were serving in the Navy at the time. Soon after I was born, my mother left the military um for obvious reasons and moved back stateside. Um we moved in with her mother, my grandmother, in Illinois, is where we were living. Um, in a small trailer park, we're living there for a period of time um before moving out into um a rundown apartment. From what I remember, I was about two, three years old around this period of time. Um, around that period, my younger brother was also born. So if you think about it, single mother, two young boys, she's about 20, 22 years old, figuring out life, uh, just getting things started.

Kevin:

And younger brother, same dad as you?

Eric:

Yes. Okay, yeah, same dad.

Kevin:

So did your mom know she was pregnant when she left the military and moved away from Guam?

Eric:

Yes. Okay, yeah.

Kevin:

Did your dad know?

Eric:

I have never asked, but I presume they were married, so I presume they were, you know, uh on the same page with what was going on. Okay. Yeah, absolutely. Um, so we're living in that uh small uh one-bedroom apartment, uh, from what I recall. Um, it wasn't too long uh after uh we were there that we ended up having to leave. I would again, I'm very young, so I'm kind of put splicing some of the details together, but we end up leaving and moving into a homeless shelter. Wow. So one of my earliest memories as a young child was playing basketball on the basketball court with home other homeless guys. So kind of think about uh the Will Smith movie Pursuit of Happiness. That's kind of where we were at the beginning of that movie. Okay. Um we were there for who knows how long, maybe around a year, a little less. We get approved for Section 8 housing, move into the projects. We're still in Illinois. Um, my memories of living there were uh a lot of gang activity. My best friend at that age, three, four years old, was a little neighborhood uh girl, one of our neighbors. Her mom was uh a prostitute and a drug dealer, how to say it bluntly. Yeah, um, and those were the types of people that were in the community that we're living in. Uh we lived there for about a year or so. And then back before all these dating apps came out, uh, used to be a thing called uh the classified section in the newspaper. And uh my mom meets an over-the-road trucker in the classified section of the newspaper. They date for a few months and then end up getting married, and that turned our life um a completely different direction. We went from living in Section 8 housing to living on a private lake in Kansas City, Missouri. Um, middle class, um, grew up there, you know, fishing, being outside, playing with neighborhood kids, completely uh different lifestyle than what we were very recently uh living.

Kevin:

Um things were so real quick. I know and you might go into this. I know that um the the trucker uh that your mom married, uh, he wasn't a good loving father to you, father figure. Uh but sounds like he was a good provider. Is that correct? Or no?

Eric:

I would say he was he was a good provider. We were, I would say comfortably middle class. Okay. Um we didn't have an overabundance, we weren't going on a lot of trips. Um, a lot of our school clothes were from Walmart or Kmart, but we were doing okay. Okay. Um so that's kind of the the socioeconomic uh level that we're at. And so yeah, he was a provider. He would oftentimes be home for about a week, gone for three weeks. That's kind of the trucker or the cross country trucker schedule. Um so that went on for about seven years. From we moved there when I was five, and they separated when I was 13. Okay. Um, so during those seven years, um, it was a relatively normal life. Um, he was, as you alluded to, um not the best example of a father. He was very emotionally and at times physically abusive. Um so that was difficult. I think it was difficult in my mother as well, and for us boys. Um, but it wasn't a constant thing because he was often on the road. So it was kind of a situation where it was tolerated for a period of time. And I think it was difficult, you know, uh, for my mother, you know, being a young woman with two boys, you know, what do you do? This is a better situation than where we were in. Yeah. And so it's it's it's kind of one of those situations. Um after they separate, I'm 13 years old. We move across town um to a new apartment complex. My mom uh gets a new job. We're living there um for about a year. And that's my first time that I'm introduced to um teenagers that are around my age that live in that type of environment. And what I mean by quote unquote that type of environment, they were kind of a little bit more uh into drug drugs or smoking or drinking, things like that. And that's when I first started getting involved in substance abuse, uh, no marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes. I can remember I started all those things on the exact same day. Yeah, I try to know, go big or go home, right? We're marines, so we don't do anything politely. Um but that was the type of environment. Um, and so I just started hanging out with the wrong, the wrong crowd, the only crowd that I was really presented, but um unfortunately, but that was kind of the my environment. I was a product of the environment, and that's what it was. I ended up uh in in school suspension more than I was in class. And my mother kind of got tired of police dropping me off late at night because I was always running around after curfew and made the decision to pull me out of public school. Um, probably for my best interest as well as everyone else's.

Kevin:

You were how old when she pulled you out of public school?

Eric:

I think I was 14, 13, 14. Uh so junior high, seventh grade is when that occurred. Um however, mind you, she was a single mother working full-time job. So she didn't really have enough or time to homeschool. So the homeschool term is loosely used here.

Kevin:

Right.

Eric:

Um, there wasn't a whole lot of education occurring. Um, and no fault of anyone's, uh, I don't want to place blame, but that's just kind of what it was uh for a couple years. Um, I remember going to my mother and, you know, begging to go back to school, which is kind of counter to what most kids probably would have done. But I just saw some of my peers progressing uh educationally, and I realized that hey, I need to get back in school. Um, I miss the social dynamic, I miss the educational dynamic. And what was told to me is if I want to go back to school, I can. I need to be private school and I need to pay for it. Wow. Right. So how am I going to make money? Um get a job, right? So at that period of time, I remember working over the summer. I was working at a summer camp, a youth summer camp, cleaning houses and working out Worlds of Fun, which is a well-known amusement park in Kansas City, working all three jobs over the summer to save money so I could go back to school. Um and that's what I did.

Kevin:

How are you getting to work? Are you riding a bike, taking the bus, getting dropped off?

Eric:

My my mom would take me um most times, um, or I'd catch rides, yeah. Um just kind of just making it work. Figure it out. That's the that's the theme. Yeah. Just figure it out. So yeah. Okay. That's what we were doing. So uh have an opportunity. That's my um, was it my freshman year in high school? Uh freshman or sophomore, excuse me, sophomore year of high school, I go to the private school. Um, and that was probably one of the biggest educational blessings that I had. Uh private Christian school, um, phenomenal education. I learned a lot. And um during that time, we get evicted from the apartment complex that we're living in. Um, my the company that my mother was working for um had some layoffs, so we weren't able to afford housing anymore. And so um, thankfully, my mother had a close family friend that allowed us to move in. And I was about 15 at that period of time, and we moved into their basement. It's an unfinished basement, cement floors, wasn't even drywall up on the walls before we got there. And we lived there for two years. I remember mattresses on the floor. Um, my and that was myself, my mother, and my brother. Um so another one of those, figure it out.

Kevin:

Yeah, I'll tell you, you know, when I was a cop, you know, we'd do I'd get calls for these houses, and it it's it's it's stunning, you know, the conditions and where some people end up living. So uh you were one of those families.

Eric:

Yeah, we we were. And you know, by the grace of God and um you know, a lot of prayer, uh, we were able to move through it. So we were there for about two years. Um I remember my mom praying often for you know help, something, you know, life to turn around. And when I was 17 is when we got approved for a habitat for humanity house through the habitat uh charity organization.

Kevin:

And real quick, remind me of the timeline. Is the trucker still in the picture or he's he's gone at this point?

Eric:

He's gone at that point.

Kevin:

He's gone. Okay, got it. It's your mom's single, single mom again.

Eric:

Single mom again. Okay. They divorced or separated when I was 13. Okay. So I'm now 15 two years later.

Kevin:

All right.

Eric:

And um, yeah, it's just the three of us. Okay. So we get approved for Habitat for Humanity House. Um, and the interesting thing is of all places that this house could have been approved for, they place us in Clay Como, or excuse me, we're living in Clay Como. They place it in Wynodot County, Kansas, uh, nicknamed Crime Dot. One of the highest crime rates of any county in the state of Kansas, right in the middle of the the inner city. That's where we move. So um we go from kind of a middle class area, um, so to speak, to right back into um kind of an environment that we started off in. And uh so that's where I'm going to high school. Um, it's a complete change for me. Um switching from a private school that I'd recently gone to to this high school, metal detectors, x-ray machines for your bags, get them cutted down by security before you can get into the building. Um lots of gang fights and all sorts of craziness um that's uh occurring there. And uh that was my junior year is going to that school.

Kevin:

Um so you completed two full years at the private school, at the Christian school?

Eric:

One full year at the private school. Okay. Right. So I was I was homeschooled and I appreciate you asking and clarifying because I the timeline was around eighth grade, eighth and ninth grade. I was homeschooled. Okay. And then sophomore year, private school, junior year. Got it. Public school again. All right. After we moved to Kansas City, Kansas. Okay. Yeah. So that's kind of the time frame uh for those taking notes.

Kevin:

Um your your experience at the private school, it was a private Christian school. It was. Uh a lot of times they can be a little more on the you know, the yuppie side of uh the demographic. Um, what was your experience? Uh was it was that kind of your experience? You're the the poor kid from the inner city coming to the private school. What was that like for you?

Eric:

It was interesting. It wasn't too exasperated, and the reason why is because there were standardized uniforms that everybody wore.

Kevin:

Got it. So that helps. Did you like that?

Eric:

Blended the uniforms. I don't like I never really liked the the uniforms, but what I did like is we never really had a whole lot of money to have the nicest clothes or the newest fashion.

Kevin:

And so you liked what the uniforms did, they kind of created an even level playing field. Exactly. Got it. Yeah, I'm a huge fan of uniforms for that reason. Right. Uh I think it just makes life for high school kids and junior high kids a lot simpler. So yeah. Okay.

Eric:

And so that worked out for us or for myself. And the fact it's funny because in those those rigid uh structures like private schools, a lot of the kids that are in their early teen years are kind of rebellious and wanting to get into stuff. Well, that was the type of kid I was, you know, with my background. So I got along with everybody for the most part, you know. So uh we had a lot of fun. Um but uh the the school was great, they uh were really, really good. I can't say enough good things, uh, Faith Christian Academy in uh uh in Kansas City. So I do do a great job and uh I'm really grateful for them. Awesome. Yeah, so my junior year, um, I'm over at Windot County High School uh in Kansas City, Kansas, uh playing football. Um compared to the private school, the education was super simple. The the standard or the bar to pass grades was not very high. So I fog the mirror, right?

Kevin:

Right? Yeah.

Eric:

So I had nearly a 4.0. Um ended up uh you know getting involved in a lot of programs, after school programs, and uh different things. And um my senior year, when I turned 18, I ended up getting kicked out of my family home by my mother. Um I was dating a girl that was from the um suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri. Um, I don't know all the details as to the whys, and uh, you know, don't want to put too much blame, but there were some uh allegations that my mother made about me to my girlfriend's family about not being faithful to their daughter that um were not true, but um ended up breaking off that relationship. My mother and I get into a heated discussion about it. The result of that heated discussion is I'm asked to leave the home.

Kevin:

Have you graduated yet, or you're still a senior in high school and she's asking you to leave?

Eric:

Still a senior in high school. Wow. Yeah.

Kevin:

Okay.

Eric:

So I respect your wishes. I I leave. I'm under the impression that it's probably temporary. It's just a you know a disagreement. So I'm couch surfing with some friends for a couple weeks, come back to do laundry, and uh I'm told no, this is actually permanent. Wow. If you want to be gone, be gone. Um and so again, uh, you know, I'm uh homeless and trying to figure it out, living out of my car, um, finishing up my senior year of high school. Um kind of in denial about being uh a homeless teen, but that's really what I was and wrestling with the ego and my you know how I'm perceived and and whatnot. But um yeah, I finish up high school. I end up graduating with honors by only the grace of God there. And um working over the summer following my my senior year. I'd applied to a few colleges, hadn't heard anything back. Um one day I checked my mail and I see a letter in there that says, Congratulations, you've been accepted to Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. I don't know what Drake is or where Iowa is, but it must have been one of the schools that my guidance counselor told me to apply to.

Kevin:

Apply here.

Eric:

Right. And I got accepted. So hey, Willie Wonka's golden ticket. I have somewhere to go. Um, I read further down the page, it says move in date. Uh-oh, next day. So I pack everything up, all my possessions into trash bags, throw them into the backseat of my Mitsubishi Mirage.

Kevin:

Okay.

Eric:

Uh I had $50 to my name, which at that time, 2009, was enough for a tank of gas. So I had enough gas to go up to Iowa. And if anything went wrong, turn around and come right back. Wow. Um luckily it all worked out. I'm moved in uh to Drake. Um the problem was I mentally was not ready. You know, I had just gotten out of a dating relationship, and I'm sure you can attest whenever you're that young, every relationship is you know, your entire being. So when you lose, you know, you lose that, you're devastated. And so I was going through a period of depression there, and then also being a 19-year-old kid trying to navigate life, you know, how do you do anything? Yeah, you know, um, so taking one day at a time, trying to figure that out. So show up to college. Uh the first week is welcome week, and you have all your activities like most colleges do, orientations and no classes going on. And so I'm doing that and partying, kind of getting into that college scene that some people fall into. And unfortunately, I continue that after the first week, into the second week, and into the third week, where I'm just partying and kind of floating. I remember getting a call from the admin office um after the first semester saying, uh, congratulations, Eric Jones. You have successfully scored a 0.3 GPA here at Drake University. We appreciate your attendance, but uh you are now welcome to leave. Yes. So I um reapply or appeal the expulsion and not sure how or why, but it gets granted they let me back in for the second semester. I use that time to figure out what I want to do with my life. Um I was studying pre-med at the time because mind you, I got really good grades in high school. So that was the track that I thought I was gonna go on. And um I realized, okay, my my grades probably aren't going to be, you know, up to snuff or medical school. So um I decided to go into business. Now, the reason why I was in pursuing medicine was because when I I recalled when I was younger, there was a missionary tr group that came to my church. I was raised in the church most of my life. And they were building churches in the Amazon. And I remember them saying that it would take up to three days sometimes to find medical attention for some of these villages. And that just really touched me. Um, I thought it was a great cause. I latched on to that cause and wanted to align my life path in that direction. And so that's the reason why I was kind of pursuing the medical path. Um, when the grades came back, I realized, okay, maybe that's not going to work. And so I pivot to business with the idea at the time to um make a lot of money and be able to financially back other individuals to be able to do that same thing. And so I leave Drake University. I'm 19 years old, drop out of uh that school, go to community college, studying business over there, so switch majors. And at that period of time, I meet uh some people that are a part of a well-known multi-level marketing business. And this team um is all about leadership development and um helping people uh develop as individuals. And I just really latch on and connect with them. And uh I started associating with people that are in life where I want to be for the first time. And I it was so crazy that that happened because I remember praying to God one night in my one-bedroom apartment. Um, you know, God just place good, godly men in my life that can show me a path, show me how to be a man, show me just how to do life.

Kevin:

How'd you even know to ask for that? Because I don't think that's like intuitive for most people.

Eric:

You're right. And I think what it was is growing up in the church, I saw my mom struggling. Um, there was many holidays where we didn't have any food or money, and churchmen would come over and bring Thanksgiving dinner for us or um invite us over uh to spend time with their families. And so I saw my mom leveraging godly men in the church to um to help. And so I I saw the source as or the church as a resource, um, and not only that, but a resource and I knew that there were people in life that had wisdom, and so I think that's what led me to to say that prayer. Okay. And God answered it, I believe, through these men in this organization. Yeah. And um, so I started getting mentorship and start reading books and start down the path of developing as an individual. And because it's a business development group, I realize, well, if all these millionaires are willing to pour into me and kind of teach me this path, even though it's only in their business sector, which I was okay with, then why am I paying somebody at a community college to teach me how to do business? And no shade, but if you're teaching at a community college, there might be a reason why you're there and you're not teaching at an Ivy League school.

Kevin:

Yeah.

Eric:

And if you're teaching business at a community college, you don't probably own a business. So why am I spending money learning from people that aren't where I'm even at the Ivy League school?

Kevin:

My guess is the majority of the business profs don't uh have never owned a business, never made payroll. So yeah.

Eric:

And so it kind of just dawned on me that why am I paying people that aren't where I want to be when I could be learning from people that are? So I for the second time drop out of college, I'm 20 years old, and start pursuing this uh to the extent that I can while I'm serving tables and working odd jobs and trying to get some firm ground under me. Um so I do that and for a few years actually, and as I'm developing that business um as my little side hustle, I um obtaining clients, you know, customers that want to buy my what have you've. And um I I meet one guy, his his name is Garth. Um and he not only agrees to be one of my first customers, but he kind of takes me under his wing. And he happens to be a business owner and uh uh real estate investor in the city. I was living still in Des Moines, Iowa at the time. Kind of takes me under his wing and starts teaching me finance and accounting and all all sorts of life skills um that kind of help me through my early 20s in tandem with this business group that I'm learning from. And um I can remember a conversation I have with him when I'm 24, 25 years old. Again, at this point in time, I'm serving tables as my primary source of income, just roughing it. And I'm realizing I'm barely ever getting over $500 in my bank account before something else comes up because you know, as quickly as it's coming in, it's going out.

Kevin:

Yeah.

Eric:

I think a lot of people can relate to that sometimes. And I go to him and I say, Hey Garth, I don't care what it is that I need to do, but clearly you're a successful one. I'm not, and I've been banging my head up against the brick wall for about five years. What do I need to do? And I remember he asks me this question of, well, how many hours a week are you working? How many jobs do you have? I'm like, Garth, I'm working 40 hours a week. I have one job, but I'm picking up all the shifts. And he's like, Well, why don't you have three jobs? Why aren't you working 80 to 100 hours a week? What else are you doing?

Kevin:

Right.

Eric:

And it dawns on me, and I'm grateful that he asks me that question because it's a valuable life skill. Um, it dawns on me that I could be doing more. And he taught me, don't worry about burning out, don't worry about how you're going to get to and from work because I had totaled my car to even have a car at that time. So I was walking uh to and from my jobs. He said, get yourself into a situation and then figure out the how.

Kevin:

I love it. There's a saying everything is figure outable. And in a lot of times, people like, oh, I can't be, but it's like, no, you put yourself in that position, and then you just Figure it out. You make it happen, right? So don't borrow troubles.

Eric:

100%. Yeah. Steve Jobs had a great quote, and he said, When an opportunity arises, first say yes, uh-huh, then figure it out later. Love it. Yeah. Same thing that you just said. And um, and Garth was right. I picked up you know a couple more jobs. I'm working brunch at one restaurant, dinner at another restaurant, working as a bouncer um downtown in the middle of the night, working around the clock. And I'm like Garth, this is a lot of work, but um, but it's worth it. I finally have some money. And I realize that your body has an incredible way of adapting. And um you won't burn out, you're you're not gonna die from working too many hours. It's fine. Um and uh but I I I go to Garth and I'm like, hey, I'm working all these hours. This is great. Is what's the next step? And he's like, well, the next step would be to find a job that can replace you know, one of these or two of these and kind of now consolidate, and then you can advance. So that's what I do. I start applying for jobs, not getting anything, not getting anything. Like, Garth, this isn't working. He's like, Well, how often how many applications are you sending out? And I'm like, I don't know, probably like five, 10 a week. It's been like a month. That's what, 40 applications? Nobody's answering. He's like, how about 10, 15, 20 a day? He's like, Eric, you're trying to qualify yourself before you apply. Let them sort it out. Just put in the work. So I start doing that. And a week later, I get a call back, get an interview, I get accepted for a job at a bank uh working in customer service with mortgages. Um, it's hilarious to me because the title was Export Expert Mortgage Agent. I don't know anything more than first.

Kevin:

First time in the mortgage industry. Right. First time. Yeah.

Eric:

Uh most days we're getting calls, me putting the client on hold and asking the person next to me what the answer is and going back and just faking it till I can make it. Yeah. Um, that's what I was doing. I was, I finally had a big boy job, you know, 25 years old.

Kevin:

Right.

Eric:

So did that for about six months and um get an opportunity uh to switch roles within the same bank, but as a banker, and um get offered that position. And I vividly remember reading the book Rich Dead, Poor Dead by Robert Kiyosaki.

Kevin:

Yeah.

Eric:

And there's a lot of things I took away from that book, but one of the most impactful ones that I took away was always pursue the acquisition of new skills, and the money will come. That's good. You're always chasing money, you're chasing money with the same set of skills that you already have, and so you're gonna be capped. But if you can develop your skills, you create additional value, then people will pay you more for that value. Yes, which I think uh a lot of successful people understand. But um, if you don't have that upbringing or have that background, it's a brand new idea. Yeah, and um sometimes that comes with a little bit of sacrifice financially, and that's what happened for me. So I went from working that customer service job and I had a couple of serving jobs. Um, I remember the year before I had made about $17,000, which um you know was what it was. And then I was running this play um that Garth had given me, and I remember making $60,000. And I was like, wow, that's um the most I've ever made. And I get offered this banking job, and uh long story short, I it was you can get this banking job, but it's gonna cut your income in half. And you're not gonna have the time to work these other jobs. And so, with that knowledge that I acquired from that book, I I said yes. Um, I wanted to learn how to communicate face to face. I didn't have that skill. And so I took that leap of faith, did that for about six months, and through the development of my communication skills, I have a hiring manager as a customer come in come into the bank. Excuse me, and he says, Eric, you're so great at what you're doing. This is phenomenal. You should come sell mortgages for um the bank. Same bank, same company, just a different department. And I didn't know I knew a little bit about mortgages by that time, but I didn't know how to sell them. It's like loans are loans. If you can do personal loans for uh little old ladies, you know, you can uh handle a mortgage. And so I'm 26 at that time. Everybody that I knew told me not to do it. You're going from salary to mostly commission. It's not gonna work. You don't know what you're doing. But um I saw the the income that was possible and again applied that same uh mindset of let's let's develop a new skill, let's let's learn something new. So I did that after my first year. I had no idea what I'm doing. If you're one of my old clients, sorry. Hope everything worked out. I I promise.

Kevin:

Right, you'll make it up.

Eric:

Absolutely, 100%. And um, but I did always do my best. And uh so I took that and I'm that was my first year, 26 years old. I made six figures, um, which was a huge milestone financially for me, but more than just a financial milestone, it was validation that what I was learning when applied was actually real. And I was you know, going down a path that um you know had some light at the end of the tunnel for the first time that I had experienced.

Kevin:

Um so uh just to kind of fast forward things, that got you into the mortgage industry. And I know you've you traveled around, set some records with another company after that one, and then now you're in Arizona and actually just launched out on your own. Tell us a little bit about your most recent venture.

Eric:

Yes. So uh recently, um so about two years ago, came into the the brokering side of uh mortgage originations, okay, which has been phenomenal.

Kevin:

Yeah.

Eric:

Um provides more freedom and more opportunity uh for the clients and to be able to better serve them. So about a month ago, I left my sales team, had a great opportunity and experience with them, um, but realized that it was about time to go ahead and branch off and uh start my own thing. So I founded the Jones Group, powered by Barrett Financial Group, LLC, out of uh Chandler, Arizona. And I've been working with clients and have an opportunity to um really serve the community and uh serve clients all over the country now um with full control. So it's been an amazing opportunity uh to be able to do that now.

Kevin:

A little nerve-wracking to step out on your own. It is, but whatever you've been doing that for your whole life, huh? It's par for the course, yeah, different forms.

Eric:

Par for the course, and anything in life that's going to be valuable and worthwhile is is going to be a little bit scary. Yeah, it I've learned that oftentimes there's a little bit of a jump that you have to make. But um, you know, when you have the right parachute, and for me, it's it's my faith uh in in God, um, everything works out.

Kevin:

Yeah. So what was the moment you realized effort could shape your future?

Eric:

I think I realized that when I was in my mid-20s, living on my own, um a lot of sleepless nights and and sad days, and I and I realized that if it was to be, it's going to be up to me. Um I think the the biggest fear that I had was being homeless uh out on the streets and um dying on the side of a street. And I knew that if I could just work and put in and follow the footsteps of somebody that has been where I want to go, then everything works out. Um I think it was starting to be proven to me in my early 20s when I uh started with that business group and then started taking the advice of Garth, and I saw it happening. Um so I think that was kind of the initial spark that um started to prove that concept, and then I just one day at a time kept taking one step after another, um, and it has always proven true. Awesome.

Kevin:

How did faith influence the way you define success today?

Eric:

You know, I used to feel like success was largely financial. Today, if you ask me how I define success, I would say that it's the ability to realize and accomplish a desired outcome. And for me, that is positively impacting the lives of whomever uh the universe or or God elects to to bring through my life. Um, I realize that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for God looking out for me or some higher power looking out over me. You know, there's too many coincidences or you know, unlikely situations. And I feel that if God's going to do that for me, then I owe it to him to um pass that forward and share his message and um do the best that I can to help others in the same way that he's helped me.

Kevin:

Awesome. Why is restoring hope such a central part of your mission?

Eric:

I think there's so many people in the in the world that would that struggle with that, right? And I was one of them. You know, being homeless as a small child, being homeless again when I was 18. Um there I can't tell you how many days where things felt bleak and hopeless. And um the the fact that I was able to make it through that, um, I owe it to people that are in my sphere. It'd be selfish if I didn't share that. And I know what it feels like to feel hopeless, and I know what it feels like to have hope. And the difference in that transition oftentimes is one, having a God that you believe in and are pursuing wholeheartedly, and two, here on earth, having somebody that actually cares enough to wrap their arm around you and and walk with you. And I've had some of those people, I told you about Garth, and there's been so many more that that have done that for me. And um now my mission is just to pay it forward and uh help others because um I know what it's like.

Kevin:

Awesome. And I know you just shared with me recently, like you felt prompted by the Holy Spirit, saw some guys and they just got baptized. You want to talk about that? Just how you you know kind of just you you you you you look you're looking for the Lord's direction in your life.

Eric:

Yeah, so it's funny because I um I grew up in the church, um, but I think like most people can can relate. Um, I kind of waned and went my own way. And it was about a year ago um that I started going back to church consistently. And um so I was doing that on on Sundays, um, living however I wanted to the rest of the week, but you know, doing my best. But um I would go to church, you know, week after week, and honestly, I just got lonely going by myself. Um and so I would meet people out in the community and just being social. It's probably from how I was you know brought up, always starting over and creating new relationships so I can meet anybody. And um I just got it in my head, you know, hey, if you're lonely going to church, why don't you just start inviting some people? Yeah, and that's what I did. And so, you know, everyone has their own backgrounds and stories, and I didn't know, you know, if it was, you know, their thing, but I just started sending text messages out, you know, I would send it out on a Wednesday to random people on my contacts list. And lo and behold, I started getting responses of guys saying, Hey, you know, I've thought about going back to church, but I didn't know anybody that went or I didn't want to go by myself. And the God started revealing to me that Eric, there's other people that feel exactly like you do. And I already knew that about, you know, money and upbringing and et cetera, but spiritually as well. And if you're going to pass it forward and help uh develop hope in people in these other areas, um I think God's message was the reason why I taught you that is so that you can also apply it in a spiritual realm as well, um, because there's people that are hurting and people that don't have hope. And so, yes, I uh started inviting people. We've grown to uh a small group of six, seven, I think eight guys now that we're at. And uh yeah, two of them got baptized this past week. So awesome.

Kevin:

Yeah, awesome, man. Uh, how do you use business as a tool for stewardship and hope?

Eric:

Um I try to use every facet of my life um for for those things. The way that I use business is I I know that there's so I work as a mortgage broker, right? And we already discussed that. And there's a lot of people that are seeking to get into home ownership. And I know what that's like. You know, I was in a Habitat for Humanity house, yeah, and um and a lot of other housing weird situations. And so um being able to help people uh gain that self-respect and that sense of dignity again, um, and also being able to help them in their finances, whether I'm getting them a new house or leveraging the equity or just counseling them on their credit. Maybe I'm not doing a transaction for them, but I'm just able to kind of point them in the right direction. Um I provide hope and in those ways that, hey, there is somebody on the other end of that on that phone call that actually cares. You're not just another number. Um, there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is a path forward, and let me wrap my arm around you and and walk with you. Um and that's all that people need. That's awesome. That's what I bring to the table.

Kevin:

What would you say to someone who feels stuck in a story that they didn't choose?

Eric:

For those that feel stuck in a story that you didn't choose, just know that it it's not your fault. Um it might be your fault. Right. But I also understand sometimes it's not. And um regardless of why you're there, there's a way out. And if you really think about where you're wanting to go in life, if you look around, you'll be able to see other people that are there, and that can feel defeating sometimes. But the truth is there's so many people that want to help and people like you, and they're just a handshake away or a question away. And in today's modern age, there's so many ways to get a hold of people, just reach out, yeah. Um, go to church, get involved in in community groups. Um, people are out there, and I think the biggest lie that I heard or felt on my inside is that people don't care. And I think the enemy kind of wants you to believe that because the enemy knows that if you realize the the truth, um you'll ultimately realize your full potential, and they don't want it doesn't want you to do that. And so um I'm here to let you know that the truth is people do care, people do want to help you reach out.

Kevin:

Successful people want to help others be successful, right? Yes. The difference is like Garth, you applied and you implemented what he suggested, right? I imagine if you had told him, Garth, I want you to mentor me, but you didn't apply the advice that he gave you. At some point he would have said, Hey, Eric, there's no point in this, right?

Eric:

That's true. Yeah, yeah.

Kevin:

So I think that's an important like people will mentor you, but you've got to apply. Don't waste your time.

Eric:

That's the point. That's the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

Kevin:

Yeah, yeah.

Eric:

You know, knowing what to do versus doing the thing and actually applying the information. Um, you're absolutely right. People are willing to help, but they're also going to be watching you. So nobody can care about your life more than you do. But um if you take the steps and put um put effort into action, people are going to be there to back you up. I promise.

Kevin:

One of the questions I like to ask all my guests is their top three to five books. Um, would you mind sharing, you know, really any category is fine. But uh, what are what are three to five books that you would say if someone wants to, if they're stuck in a hopeless situation, they want to turn their life around, they want to be successful, um, you know, uh reach the potential, maximize their impact, uh, what are some books that you would recommend to them?

Eric:

Number one book, it's gonna sound cliche, and I say this because it's the genuine truth. Get into the Bible. Okay, read your Bible.

Kevin:

Yeah.

Eric:

Um start in Proverbs, start in The Disciples and read through that. Um other top two or three books, I would say um Magic of Thinking Big, Google it, look it up on Amazon. The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson. How to win friends and influence people. And if you want to continue looking for books, I always recommend look for books that are going to develop your social skills and your communication, develop your heart and your mind. Ogmandino is a great author for that. And um, and yeah.

Kevin:

Awesome.

Eric:

That's where it's at.

Kevin:

Awesome. All right, and I uh I try to do this with all my guests just to lighten things up a little again. I call it uh cars, cigars, guns, and guitars. So favorite car? Either one you've had, one you currently have, or your dream car.

Eric:

My favorite car so far. I currently have it. It's an Audi RS7. Yes, it's tons of fun. Um, that's my favorite car right now.

Kevin:

Very good. Uh cigar.

Eric:

Uh favorite cigar uh brand is my father. Um, either the David or the Goliath. Both are great.

Kevin:

Very good. I haven't had either one of those, so I gotta work on that. Uh gun.

Eric:

Um favorite firearm. I'm a marine. Semprify.

Kevin:

M1684. Yeah, I that's my pick too. Absolutely. Awesome. The ability to hit a target from 500 yards, open sights.

Eric:

Yeah.

Kevin:

It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable.

Eric:

Yeah. We had RCOs when I was in, so more respect to you.

Kevin:

Gotcha. Yeah. So um, yeah, that was uh that that's amazing. Uh, and then uh guitars. So I'm a guitarist. I don't know if you're a musician, but if it's not guitar, actual favorite guitar, do you have a favorite guitarist or musician?

Eric:

Uh probably a Gibson.

Kevin:

There we go. Do you play?

Eric:

I don't. Okay. I don't. I I wish I did. Um maybe maybe that's an another skill that I'll develop here in the future.

Kevin:

Absolutely. Awesome, man. Well, hey, um, fill people in real quick on your company, your website, your social media, stuff like that. So if they want to follow you, I'll I'll put links in the show notes, but uh fill people in on how they can uh catch up with you, Eric.

Eric:

Yeah, absolutely. If you want to find me, I'm easy to find. Google me, Eric Jones, the Jones Group Mortgage. It'll pop right up. You can look up JonesLending Group.com, Barrettfinancial.com slash Eric Dash Jones will also bring me up. Or you can call or text me, 480-980-2501. I'm always available.

Kevin:

There we go. Awesome. And you're on social media primarily.

Eric:

I'm on Instagram, LinkedIn. Instagram is ericjones.the Jones Group. Okay. You can also go to LinkedIn, search the Jones group. You'll find me.

Kevin:

Perfect. Awesome. Well, hey, bro, uh, thanks for sharing your story again. Uh, it's it's always inspirational. And uh, I know there's a lot of people out there that uh had you know similar challenges that they faced either currently or just at a different point in their life. Uh and what I just really so much admire about you is you haven't used that as an excuse. You know, I think there's a tendency in our culture today uh to use trauma as a crutch. And I'm not saying that trauma doesn't exist, but if anyone had trauma in their life, it's you. And you had truckloads and truckloads of it, and you've just chosen not to wallow in it. And you surrounded yourself, you worked hard. Um, you know, the the speed bumps just became uh, you know, walls for you to climb over instead of obstacles to keep you from reaching your goals. So um it's been an honor to get to know you over the last just couple of months. I have tremendous respect for you, appreciate one of the things I noticed about you is you're very intentional to speak life into people. Uh, you know, we're we had poker at my house this past Saturday, and um, I saw you having a very intentional conversation with my nephew, who's 17 years old, and and you know, even my wife Becca noticed it. And I just I know that that's what you do everywhere you go. So um you're a great guy. You're an awesome influence, and I'm honored to call you a friend. So thanks for being here, bro.

Eric:

Thanks so much, brother.

Kevin:

All right.